What is an EIN Number?

An EIN Number stands for Employer Identification Number and it will be issued by the IRS to your Washington State LLC.

An EIN is to your Washington LLC what a Social Security Number is to a person. It helps the IRS identify your business for tax and filing purposes.

Having an EIN for your Washington LLC allows you to open a separate bank account under the LLC’s name, apply for certain licenses and permits, and handle employee payroll (if applicable).

Even though it’s called an Employer Identification Number, it doesn’t mean that you have to have employees. The EIN is just a type of Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) that identifies your Washington LLC with the IRS.

EIN Synonyms

Your Washington LLC’s EIN may be called different names. They all mean the same thing though.

Similar terms for an EIN include:

EIN Number

Employer ID Number

Employer Identification Number

Federal Employer ID Number

Federal Employer Identification Number

FEIN

Federal Tax Number

Federal Tax ID Number

Federal Tax Identification Number

Benefits of having an EIN for your Washington LLC

Having an EIN for your Washington LLC enables you to do the following:

EIN Phone Application

You may have read that you can apply for an EIN by phone. This is no longer the case. The IRS has discontinued this service.

The only businesses that can get an EIN by phone are Exempt Organizations (like non-profits) and Foreign Companies (companies formed outside of the United States).

If you’re a foreigner and you formed an LLC in Washington, we have instructions below on how to apply for your EIN.

EIN for Husband and Wife LLC in Washington

Because Washington is a community property state, a 2-member LLC that is owned by a husband and wife can elect a special form of taxation called a “Qualified Joint Venture LLC“.

A Qualified Joint Venture with the IRS allows your husband and wife Washington LLC to file taxes as a Sole Proprietorship instead of a Partnership. This can save you time and money in accounting and tax costs.

There may be additional benefits to obtaining Qualified Joint Venture status with the IRS and this is a conversation you’ll want to have with an accountant.

EIN Responsible Party

The EIN Responsible Party is a person that goes on file with the IRS when you apply for an EIN for your Washington LLC.

Think of the Responsible Party as the LLC’s “contact person”. The IRS will send your LLC’s mail and correspondence to this person.

If you have a Single-Member Washington LLC:

Then you will be the EIN Responsible Party.

If you have a Multi-Member Washington LLC:

One of the LLC Members will be the EIN Responsible Party.

The IRS just wants one person as the EIN Responsible Party. They don’t want all the Washington LLC Members’ information. The IRS gets the other Members’ information when you file your 1065 Partnership return and issue K-1s each year.

Although any LLC Member can be listed, you should list the LLC Member that will take on the responsibility of making sure the LLC’s taxes are handled properly.

If your Washington LLC is owned by another company:

The IRS made changes in 2018 that no longer allow an EIN Responsible Party to be a company. The EIN Responsible Party must be an individual person. So it’s best to list one of the individual owners of the parent company.

Note: If you have a Washington LLC that is owned by another company and you try to get an EIN online, you’ll just get an error message (EIN reference number) at the end of the application.

The default tax status for a Washington Single-Member LLC is a Disregarded Entity, meaning if the LLC is owned by an individual, the LLC is taxed like a Sole Proprietorship. If the LLC is owned by a company, it is taxed as a branch/division of the parent company.

The default tax status for a Washington Multi-Member LLC is Partnership, meaning the IRS taxes the LLC like a Partnership.

If instead, you want your Washington LLC taxed as a C-Corp, you’ll first apply for an EIN and then later file Form 8832. If you want your LLC taxed as an S-Corp, you’ll first apply for an EIN and then later file Form 2553.

If you choose to have your Washington LLC taxed as a Corporation, make sure you speak with an accountant as there are a lot of details you need to consider. Having an LLC taxed as an S-Corporation is a much more popular choice than having an LLC taxed as a C-Corporation. S-Corporation taxation usually makes sense once an LLC generates about $70,000 in net income per year.

How to apply for an EIN for your Washington LLC

Below you will find 3 different sets of instructions:

1. If you have an SSN or ITIN, use the EIN online application

We recommend applying for an EIN online for your Washington LLC if you have an SSN or ITIN.

This is the easiest filing method and it has the fastest approval time.

EIN Confirmation Letter (EIN Approval)

Once the IRS issues an EIN for your Washington LLC you will receive your official approval, known as an EIN Confirmation Letter (CP 575).

The method you used to apply for an EIN will determine how you receive your EIN Confirmation Letter.

If you applied for an EIN online: You’ll be able to download a PDF copy of your EIN Confirmation Letter at the end of the online application. There is no waiting time. The IRS will also send you a duplicate copy in the mail in about 4 to 5 weeks.

If you sent Form SS-4 by fax: The IRS will fax you back your EIN Confirmation Letter within 4 to 7 business days.

If you sent Form SS-4 by mail: The IRS will mail your EIN Confirmation Letter within 4 to 8 weeks.

Here is what the EIN Confirmation Letter for an LLC looks like:

How to Cancel an EIN?

If there was a mistake with your first EIN application or you need to cancel your EIN Number for any reason, you just need to mail a cancellation letter to the IRS.

Aside from the above, banks may also require other paperwork (like proof of address), so we recommend calling a few banks in Washington ahead of time before visiting them in person. It’s also a good idea to ask if they have monthly fees on their “basic” business checking accounts since there are a number of banks that don’t have any monthly fees.

If you’re a non-US resident (foreigner), you will need to show 2 forms of identification, such as your foreign passport and your foreign driver’s license. There are additional things to keep in mind when opening a U.S. bank account for your Washington LLC that we have listed here: Non-US resident opening U.S. bank account for an LLC

Note: You will need to open a bank account in Washington since that is where you formed your LLC.

IRS Contact Information

If you have any questions, you can call the IRS at 1-800-829-4933. Their office hours are 7am – 7pm, Monday through Friday.

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